Seat support pad and apparatus and method of producing the same



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. C. GORDON April 12, 1966 SEAT SUPPORT PAD AND APPARATUS AND METHOD oF PRoDUcINe THE SAME Filed April a, 1965 ,A TT

NW -f A. L A NN NJVWW NAA April 12, 1966 Filed April 8, 1963 J. C. GORDON SEAT SUPPORT PAD AND APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PRODUGING THE SAME FHM-1| 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 724% arw army/af April 12, 1966 J. c. GQRDQN 3,245,245

SEAT SUPPORT PAD AND APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME Filed April 8, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Elib INVENTOR E 4 1726/? orgvf.

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SEAT SUPPORT PAD AND APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME Filed April 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Il j/4/ f r 2'( I E. j; K

,4Z INVENTOR 62;@ 726% 6'. arj?? j i /M United States Patent O 3,245,245 SEAT SUPPORT PAD AND APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING 'II-IE SAME Jack C. Gordon, Detroit, Mich., assigmor to Gordon- Chapman Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,259 Claims. (Cl. 72-297) This invention relates to seat support pads and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method of producing the same. Seat support pads of the type to which this invention pertains are employed for resiliently supporting an overlying padding material on an underlying spring structure in upholstered seats such as automobile seats and the like.

Seat support pads of this type usually comprise a sheet of fabric which is comprised of fibers which are relatively nonstretchable such as burlap fabric or an open mesh fabric. A series of reinforcing strips such as resilient steel Wires are disposed in overlying and spaced, substantially parallel relationship lon one surface of the fabric and are adhered thereto by means of an adhesive material such as a rubber base curing-type adhesive material. Typical types of seat support pads are shownA and described in my 4izo-pending application, y.Serial Number 114,964, tiled June 5, 1961, and now abandoned.

One of the disadvantages of seat pad material having7 metal reinforcing strips or steel wires is that when the material is cut to length to form the pad, the ends of the steel wires are exposed and are apt to injure the hands of the operator. Also, if the steel wires should become loosened from the fabric, they may shift longitudinally or laterally and thus become displaced hom their spaced, parallel relation with the fabric.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method. for bending over the exposed ends of the wire so as to avoid contact thereof with the hands of the operator and to furtheranchor thev 40 reinforcing strips or wires to the fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide'a method and means for fashioning the ends of the wires to provide an axially offset portion and to dispose `the free end of the wire in the offset portion to thereby bury the wire end so as to avoid accidental contact therewith by the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the ends of a plurality of reinforcing strips or wires may be simultaneously fashioned in the manner stated above, whereby the operation may be quickly and automatically performed, thereby adapting the apparatus for mass production.

The various objects and advantages, and the novel details of construction and method steps of one commercially practical embodiment o f the invention, will become more apparent as this descriptionproceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary'rear elevational view of the apparatus as seen from the left of FIGURE 3,*With the parts in the position illustrated in FIGURE I3;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view with the parts in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5;

' FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational View taken'substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional View taken substantially' on the plane indicated by line 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views similar to FIGURE 3 showing the bending mechanism in the positions it assumes during the wire bending operation; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view `of a portion of a seat support pad with the wire in bent condition.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that in FIGURE 8 there is illustrated a portion of a seat support pad 10 consisting of a sheet of burlap or open mesh fabric 10a upon which there is disposed, in overlapping spaced, substantially parallel relation, a plurality of reinforcing members or wires 11 adhered thereto by means of an adhesive material, such as a rubber base curing-type adhesive material.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for bending the ends of these wires 11 to form the return bent end portions 12 with the free ends or extremities 12a of these return bent portions lying substantially within the axial plane of -the wire. to insure that the extremities 12a lie substantially Within the axial plane of the wire, each wire adjacent its end is preferably axially offset as at 13. This axially offset portion 13 forms a part of the return bend 12. In bending over the ends of the wires 11 to form the return bends 12, the edge of the fabric 10a is turned over to form substantially a hem 14 in the fabric.

The essential portions of an apparatus capable of performing the operations just described consist principally of a stationary frame member 15 mounted upon suitable supports (not shown). The reference character 16 indicates a movable reciprocating head slidably mounted for vertical movement upon rods or guideways 17 suitably mounted in the upper portion of the frame of the machine (not shown). The head 16 is reciprocated in a vertical direction by means of piston rods 18a connected to pistons (not shown) reciprocating in cylinders 18.

The frame member 15 is provided with a subframe portion 15a to which journal lugs 19 are attached in which are journaled the trunnions 20 of a cylinder 21. Reciprocating with the cylinder 21 is a piston (not shown) to which is connected a piston rod 22. The upper end of the piston rod 22 is provided with a clevis-like member 23 pivotally connected as at 24 by ears 25 to a rocka-ble or swinging forming element 26. The forming element 26 is secured at its ends to rocking supports 27 by means of bolts 28. Each rocking support is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 29 carried by a supporting member 30 extending upwardly from the frame member 15 of the structure. j

From an examination of FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 5, it will be noted that the rockable forming member 26 is movable about its pivot 29 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, or from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 t-o the posi- -tion illustrated in FIGURE 1, by means of the actuating mechanism consisting of the piston rod 22 and cylinder 21.

Secured to the movable head 16 is a clamping member 35. The clamping member 35 may be secured to the head 16 by means of bolts 36. The lower face of the clamping member 35 is provided with a clamping face plate 37, constituting a wear plate adapted to engage thel top surface of the seat support pad 10. The lower face of the plate 37 may be provided with serrations 37a for positively gripping the seat pad 10. It will be apparent that when the reciprocating head 16 is moved downwardly by the piston rods 18a, the clamping element 35 will be moved downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of the seat pad 10.

When the seat pad 10 is inserted into the machine, it rests upon a lower clamping member 40 pivotally mounted as at 41 to a supporting member 42 carried by the frame member 15. The clamping member 41 is normally urged in an upward direction, to the position shown in FIGURE 5, by means of a spring 43 disposed in a recess 44 in the supporting member 42. When the.

clamping member 35 is moved in a downward direction,

In order the lower clamping member 4t) will be moved about its pivot 41 against the action of the spring 43 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, where it rests upon the top surface of the suporting member 42 to compress the spring 43.

When the spring pressed clamping member 40 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, which it is when the seat pad is inserted into the machine, it directs the inner edge of the seat pad into engagement with one or more gauge stops 50 secured by screws 51 to the swingable forming member 26; see FIGURE 5` As stated heretofore, it is desirable to form the axially offset portions 13 in the wires 11 adjacent the ends thereof, and for accomplishing this, there is provided a reciprocal forming member 55 reciprocally mounted on the clamping member 35 by means of bolts 56 passing through slots 57 formed in the reciprocal forming member 55 (see FIGURE 2).

For reciprocating the member 55, there is provided one or more cylinders 58, here shown as three, mounted upon the reciprocating head 16. Each of these cylinders 58 is provided with a piston (not shown) connected to a piston rod 59 having a portion 60 threadedly engaging an aperture in the upper end of the reciprocating forming member 55.

The lower edge of the reciprocal forming member 55 is provided with a generally inclined surface 61 adapted to engage the wire 11 to form the axially offset portion 13 in the wire. A complementary inclined surface 62 is formed in the adjacent edge of the spring pressed clamping member 40 so that the wire 11 may be clamped therebetween, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, to produce the axially offset portion 13.

The clamping member 35 is provided with recesses 70 to accommodate the gauge stops 50 when the rockable forming member 26 is swung from the position illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 to that illustrated in FIGURE 7.

It will be noted that the reciprocal forming member 55 is mounted upon the clamping member 35 so as to be movable therewith when the clamping member is moved from the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 to that illustrated in FIGURE 6, and after the seat pad 10 has been clamped, as shown in FIGURE 6, the cylinders 58 actuate the piston rods 59 to move the reciprocating forming member S5 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 to that illustrated in FIGURE 6, whereupon the axially offset portions 13 are formed in the wires 11.

The sequence of operations is such that after the laterally offset portions 13 have been formed in the wire, the reciprocal forming member 55 is retracted to the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 and the rockable forming member 26 is moved from the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 to that illustrated in FIGURE 7 to bend the angularly extending end 10b of the wire, shown in FIGURE 6, into a complete return bend, as shown in FIGURE 7.

The rockable forming member 26 is provided with a face plate 75 which may be formed of a harder material, which face plate is adapted to engage the angularly extending end 10b of the wire 11 to bend it back upon itself to Vcomplete the return bend. This face plate is provided with grooves 76 adapted to engage the wires 11 during the bending operation to keep the same straight or, in other words, in alignment with the remaining portion of the wire.

The lower spring pressed clamping member 40 may be provided with serrations 40a which cooperate with the serrations 37a to clamp the pad 10 during the forming operation.

In operation, the pad 10 is inserted into the machine over the lower clamping member 40, which is the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, until the inner edge thereof engages the gauge stops 59. Thereupon, the clamping member 35 is lowered and engages the pad and moves the pad and lower clamping member 40 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6. Thus, the edge of the pad 10 is rigidly secured in clamped position. after, the reciprocating forming member 55 .is lowered to engage the surface 61 thereof with the pad 10 to press the same downwardly against the complementary inclined surface 62 to form the axially offset portion 13 in each wire. This initial bending of each wire results in forming an angularly extending end 10b therein. In this position, the angularly extending end 10b of each wire engages in one of the grooves 76 formed in the fa plate 75 of the rockable forming member 26.

The reciprocating forming member 55 is then retracted to the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 and the rockable forming member 26 is moved from the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 to that illustrated in FIGURE 7 to complete the return bend 12,y as shown in FIGURE 7. In doing so, the extremity 12a of the wire is depressed into the axially offset portion 13 so that the extremity of the wire is buried or lies substantially within the axial plane of the wire, as shown in FIGURE 7.

When the rockable forming member 26 is moved to the position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 7, it engages a rubber block 80 secured to the lower surface of the reciprocal head 16, which resiliently limits the movement of the rockable forming member.

After the return bend 12 is completed, the clamping member 35 is returned to its upper position, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, and the rockable forming member 26 is returned to its initial position, as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The operations just described may be performed in the proper sequence by means of limit switches (not shown) for causing actuation, in proper order, of the cylinders 18, 58 and 21.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the ends of the wires are provided with return bent portions in which the extremities of the wires are located substantially within the axial plane of the wires so that they will not be exposed and will not injure the hands of the operator or catch upon any other object when the pads are |being handled. In forming the return bends 12 in the ends of the wires, the fabric 10a of the pad is turned back upon itself to form a substantial hem 14. By forming return bend portions in the ends of the wires, the wires are .also prevented `from shifting longitudinally or laterally to thus become displaced from their spaced parallel relation -with the fabric.

The apparatus heretofore described provides means whereby the bending operation may be quickly and automatically performed, thereby adapting the apparatus for mass production. While the limit switches have not been shown or described, it will be apparent that suitable limit switches may be provided for actuating the cylinders 18, 58 and 21 in proper timed relation.

While one commercially practical embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated herein somewhat in detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for fashioning the ends of the reinforcing wires of seat pads and the like comprising, means for clamping the marginal portion of the seat pad in xed relation to a plurality of forming elements, a reciprocal forming element for `axially offsetting the wire adjacent the end thereof with the end thereof extending at an angle, and a rockable forming element 'for further bending the angular end of the wire back upon itself to for-m a return bend therein with the end of the Iwire lying substantially within the axial plane of the wire.

2. An apparatus yfor .fashioning the ends of the reinforcing wires of seat pads and the like comprising, means for clamping the marginal portion of the seat pad in xed relation to a plurality of forming elements, a reciprocal forming element for axially olfsetting the wire adjacent the end thereof with the end thereof extending at an Immediately there-l angle, and a rockable forming element for further bending the angular end of the Wire back upon itself with the end thereof lying substantially Within the axial plane of the Wire.

3. An apparatus for lbending the ends of the reinforcing wires of `seat pads and the like comprising, a gauge stop, .a spring pressed clamping member upon which the seat pad is positioned in engagement with said gauge stop, means for clamping the marginal portion of the seat pad against said clamping member in engagement with said gauge stop and for thereupon moving said seat pad into fixed relation to a plurality of forming elements, a reciprocal forming element for bending the end of the Wire into a partial return bend, and a rockable forming element for further bending the Wire end to complete the return bend.

4. An yapparatus for bending the ends of the reinforcing Wires of seat pads and the like comprising, a gauge stop, a spring pressed clamping member upon which the seat pad -is positioned in engagement with said gauge stop, means for clamping the marginal portion of the seat pad against said clamping member Iand for moving said spring pressed clamping member rand seat pad i-nto xed relation to a plurality of forming elements, a reciprocal forming element for axially offsetting the wire adjacent the end thereof with the end thereof extending at an angle, and a rockable forming element for further bending the angular end of the lWire back -upon itself with the extreme end thereof lying substantially Within the axial plane of the w1re` 5. An apparatus for bending the ends of the reinforcing Wires of seat pads rand the like comprising, a gauge stop, .a spring pressed clamping member upon which the seat pad is positioned in engagement with said gauge stop, means for clamping the marginal portion of the seat pad against said clamping member and for moving said spring pressed clamping member and seat pad into fixed relation to a plurality of forming elements, a irst forming element slida'bly mounted on said clamping means and operable in timed relation to said clamping means for bending the end of the Wire into a partial return bend, and a rockable forming element for further bending the Wire end to complete the return bend.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 233,751 10/1880 Haworth 140-112 1,448,567 3/1923 Muller et al. 153-12 1,642,691 9/1927 Nystrom et al. 72-302 1,815,102 7/1931 Hinrich 72-321 2,208,052 7/1940 Pierce 140-107 2,292,414 8/ 1942 Sutton 140-107 2,774,391 12/ 1956 Bertram 140-75 3,071,176 1/1963 Askinazy 153-12 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

R. D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR FASHIONING THE ENDS OF THE REINFORCING WIRES OF SEAT PADS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, MEANS FOR CLAMPING THE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE SEAT PAD IN FIXED RELATION TO A PLURLITY OF FORMING ELEMENTS, A RECIPROCAL FORMING ELEMENT FOR AXIALLY OFFSETTING THE WIRE ADJACENT THE END THEREOF WITH THE END THEREOF EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE, AND A ROCKABLE FORMING ELEMENT FOR FURTHER BENDING THE ANGULAR END OF THE WIRE BACK UPON ITSELF TO FORM A RETURN BEND THEREIN WITH THE END OF THE WIRE LYING SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE AXIAL PLANE OF THE WIRE. 